Steelers make trade for CB

[BLITZ]

I don't know what to make of this. Value wise it's about average. The fact Boykin only has 1 year left on his deal is not good for us. The value of that draft pick is to find a guy for cheap for 4 seasons. Boykin isn't cheap and he isn't long term. After this year his value is dictated by the free agent market and as I've pounded on and on about the Golson pick, this shows you the exact value of "nickel defensive backs". They are available if you look around.

It just further confuses me about what we saw in Golson to think he's worth a 2nd round pick. Makes no sense to me from a cost analysis or resource analysis.

And now we add yet another undersized nickel defender into a group of undersized nickel defenders. The fact Boykin is probably the most talented just speaks volumes to the confusion we have about the position. A month ago, every bullshit pro-Steelers local story was how Blake was going to emerge this season. Obviously that was wrong because Boykin is just a better Blake.

To me this trade represents a clusterfuck at the position not a positive. It represents confusion in the front office and coaching staffs. It represents panic already.

Will it make us a better team in 2015? Probably slightly. I never was sold on Blake, Golson or Grant before this and I've like Boykin as a player for a while (I've seen a lot of him being in the Philly market) and I liked him coming out of college. But when you are looking at 1-year rental players on August 1st to fix your depth charts, that's not a good sign.

At this point I think Gay and Allen will end up the outside starters and Boykin will be the nickel defender. We'll keep Blake and both rookies will make the roster (Golson/Grant). But that also means our supposed "rookie fixes" that everyone was so optimistic about after the draft will be buried as the #5 and #6 CB's on the roster and never see playing time.

Typical Steelers draft. Overdraft need positions, find out they can't play, then bury 'em on the depth chart and sell us on "future returns" while we struggle with journeyman free agents getting playing time and struggling.

I do not see a negative to this move. If he is only here for 1 year then chances are we will get a 4th of 5th comp pic for him. if he signs a long term deal we get a 25yr old upgrade at corner. we don't have to rush the youngs guys into service, they can actually be developed until they are ready to play. where is the bad news?

 

[stillwright]

I said it because we have a lot of CB's on the team that we just drafted and signed. If they show any promise, Boykin is gone after this year unless he does sign something that works for the team. It's called common sense.

That's why I'd try to sign him to a lesser dollar extension now as I doubt they will after the season.

And common sense says he will not take a team friendly deal. That is why I said what I said. Why would he? He is a FA next season. His big pay day is in site after being drafted I believe in the 4th roind. He will want to be paid.his worth.

 

[Vader]

Does anyone know why he was upset with Kelly before he traded him? He wants to play outside not just the slot. He thinks he is one of the best CBs in the league and doesn't want to be a 3rd CB playing the slot. I'm ok with the trade simply because he is insurance for Allen and Gay. They wanted him before they even drafted Golson so he was never the issue anyway.

My biggest issue is that if Allen and Gay lock down the outside then could he start running his mouth? He isn't going to like being in the slot while playing for a FA contract next year. Even if they move Gay to the slot and play him outside if he plays well then he will be gone next year for big money. He isn't a "home discount" guy.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

I think we picked him up for lack of having a bonafide tried and true starter at the corner ,, (other than gay)

I think his price is right at 1.5 million this year, the quality to play is there,, and well Face it they do seem to like completion for positions. Well at least everywhere but 3rd string Qb.

 

[TDX27]

And common sense says he will not take a team friendly deal. That is why I said what I said. Why would he? He is a FA next season. His big pay day is in site after being drafted I believe in the 4th roind. He will want to be paid.his worth.

Whatever dude. As I said, this was a good move. If they can sign him now to a deal similar to what AB got a couple years ago, then that is a win, win. But, I know, you are probably one of the ones that thinks we should break the bank and redo AB's deal with 3 years remaining when it was a very good deal for him when he signed it and it still is a good deal - just not top 5 money. That was a Steelers friendly deal and AB got paid more than he was worth, at the time. If the guy is all about the money, this is a one year thing, just like I said multiple times. Next.

 

[oicu8ad]

So what actually happened to Gholson? What is his injury and how did it happen? Didn't it happen before training camp?

 

[stillwright]

Whatever dude. As I said, this was a good move. If they can sign him now to a deal similar to what AB got a couple years ago, then that is a win, win. But, I know, you are probably one of the ones that thinks we should break the bank and redo AB's deal with 3 years remaining when it was a very good deal for him when he signed it and it still is a good deal - just not top 5 money. That was a Steelers friendly deal and AB got paid more than he was worth, at the time. If the guy is all about the money, this is a one year thing, just like I said multiple times. Next.

The difference is that Brown had numerous years left on his rookie deal....And no i don't think we should rework his deal. Just the opposite. The Steelers took a chance and gave him a nice signing bonus and more money. Steelers probably over paid Brown at the time but locked him up long term. Brown got money in the bank right away instead of waiting until his rookie deal ran out. Boykin has ONE year left. Now the Steelers could approach him now and try to rework his last year into an extension but there will not be a home town discount. Also look at all of the Steeler's extensions over the last few years. show me a home town discount deal. We over paid Pouncey(highest paid center), we over paid Gilbert(I'm sure you will not argue that) . What about Allen? Also we over paid Heyward. Heyward signed for all but $10 million a year. Ben got paid. Some will say we over paid him. I'm not one of them. Go back a little further. Harrison, Woodley, Timmons. No home town discount seen here that is for sure So you can talk about home town discounts and team friendly deals all you want but that is all it is ...just talk.

 

[stillwright]

So what actually happened to Gholson? What is his injury and how did it happen? Didn't it happen before training camp?

I believe it is his shoulder. That is about all I know though. Sorry.

 

[madinsomniac]

Im just saying, Kelly is making a hell of a lot of very questionable moves... I wouldn't feel comfortable at all with him as a coach, much less coach/GM... some college guys just don't make the transition from dealing with virtual kids to dealing with adults well. Especially not the first stint they have.

 

[Tibs]

Welcome to the 'Burgh!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to <a href="https://twitter.com/steelers">@steelers</a> practice <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonBoykin2">@BrandonBoykin2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash">#Steelers</a> <a href="http://t.co/sPvBq7M4IG">pic.twitter.com/sPvBq7M4IG</a></p>— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) <a href="https://twitter.com/Teresa_Varley/status/627914039293792256">August 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Steelbar]

We have wasted #5 picks on Terry Hawthorn and Shaquil Richardson, to pick up a PROVEN, good CB for a 5th is a steal.

 

[madinsomniac]

A couple things to remember about the last ten years of contracts the steelers handed out was that:

A.) the way the last CBA changed RFA status really screwed the Steelers way of dealing with that which led to the mess with Wallace and Brown and Lewis and a few more... even really how Heyward was handled...

B.) no one expected the league office to artificially suppress the salary cap the way they did for as long as they did. May teams were burned on that. long term deals that should have gotten better as they went on languished as cap killers. Don't get me wrong, it was brilliant and benefitted the cap floor teams, but for us and a few others it sucked....

 

[stillwright]

Im just saying, Kelly is making a hell of a lot of very questionable moves... I wouldn't feel comfortable at all with him as a coach, much less coach/GM... some college guys just don't make the transition from dealing with virtual kids to dealing with adults well. Especially not the first stint they have.

the true question is would you take him over Tomlin?

 

[madinsomniac]

the true question is would you take him over Tomlin?

No I wouldn't. Kelly has done absolutely nothing at the pro level. The list of flameouts from college are vast. Tomlin has been to two superbowls. regardless of what people think of him currently he has proof that there are circumstances that he can be successful at in the NFL level. So far Kelly has shown he can blow up a team and alienate a bunch of players.

 

[Litos]

I could see Gay and Boykin as starters outside and when the team goes with three CBs Gay goes to the inside and Allen gets on the field to play opposite Boykin.

Kelly thinks he's playing Madden franchise mode

 

[slashsteel]

Welcome to the 'Burgh!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to <a href="https://twitter.com/steelers">@steelers</a> practice <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonBoykin2">@BrandonBoykin2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash">#Steelers</a> <a href="http://t.co/sPvBq7M4IG">pic.twitter.com/sPvBq7M4IG</a></p>— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) <a href="https://twitter.com/Teresa_Varley/status/627914039293792256">August 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

....looks like the trade stipulation is a conditional 5th, which can turn to a 4th if BB plays 60% of the snaps or more.

 

[slashsteel]

I could see Gay and Boykin as starters outside and when the team goes with three CBs Gay goes to the inside and Allen gets on the field to play opposite Boykin.

Kelly thinks he's playing Madden franchise mode

however they shuffle the deck any of the three can play the slot

it is just a matter of which two can play the best on the outside

 

[bermudasteel]

Glad to read all the negativity about a proven CB in the NFL. Welcome to the Killa Bees, BB!!!

 

[SteelBuckeye]

If there wasn't negativity when Tombert makes a good move, how would we know we'd reached the right forum?

 

[SteelerSask2]

The two best play on the outside, but I'm not sure how Allen would play at slot. They might have to sit him in the limited base defenses and put him on the outside in Nickle/ Dime situations. He seems a little tall and stiff to play inside. You have to have loose athletic hips to cover some of those shifty inside guys.

 

[madinsomniac]

Here is the bottom line... the guy is a young player who has 3 years of experience playing the position. Our DB position is clearly the most questionable... at worse what happens here? Younger players outplay him and we wasted a 5th rounder? Low draft picks are mostly wastes anyhow... its worth the shot... even if the guy plays great, we lose a 4th rounder and he gets paid elsewhere, then we at least solidified the position for a year and probably get a pick back if we cannot resign him....

 

[fogdoctor]

Plus: He can cover.
Minus: He is smaller than I am.

 

[mightyguru]

I freakin' love this. can't believe Colbert pulled this off. Awesome upgrade.

 

[diver]

The only thing that worries me is the Kelly racist questions he had to answer. Kelly isn't racist, he is anti-*******. McCoy and Desean Jackson were ********, for example. They can't come to grips with the fact that they are ********, so they have to hint Kelly is racist. So anyway, did the Steelers get an ******* if he was involved in that stuff?

If things would go bad here, we know he can't say racist.

As a player, I think it is a great move.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

The only thing that worries me is the Kelly racist questions he had to answer. Kelly isn't racist, he is anti-*******. McCoy and Desean Jackson were ********, for example. They can't come to grips with the fact that they are ********, so they have to hint Kelly is racist. So anyway, did the Steelers get an ******* if he was involved in that stuff?

If things would go bad here, we know he can't say racist.

As a player, I think it is a great move.

Just not buying this argument.

I mean, how do you figure McCoy and DJax are ********?

Second- who do you think is the bigger *******: Brandon Boykin or Riley Cooper?